Dearie, I came back here each night, after a very full and busy fortnight in London. I went up to Leeds ( vide article in S. R!) & spent two Sundays at Hatfield. Each time Arthur was there, & this last Sunday my father was also there, he, Buchle of the Times, & the Speaker made some interesting talk. What a storm we had that Sat & Sunday! From what I hear here, I fear Tyninghame is much devastated, I don't make out we have lost much, except one good tree in the Lime avenue wh. is ____. A steamer founded off [Dunbar?], all hands lost, & the bodies are still being washed up. Betty went south on the 15th & Alice on the 19th, so I am quite alone with the children, I feel rather as if I had entered a nunnery. I am struggling with a very bad cold when I can get rid of it I shall be happier -I think Gladstone showed his opportunist instinct when he chose the moment he did for stepping into the coal ____ everything was almost settled when he took it up I hear of influenza about here, & there is much in London, the Vicarage having it pretty smartly. Con Lytton was here for a good fortnight, going south with Betty, she was happy, & so was every one to have her. I asked Eustance your question about Trusts, but he sd the 'Foreign & Colonial' was all right, & seemed quite certain on their head. I am afraid I am no authority on Green house warming, I know they do use oil [canys?] for it. I'd have liked to have seen you breaking the stick over the donkey's back! Ever yr loving FB
Paper has 'WHITTINGHAM PRESTONKIRK' NB Station: - EAST LINTON NB Ry . Telegraphs: - PRESTONKIRK 3 ¼ Miles' printed on it in black ink.